SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) – Gay Mormons gathered Saturday for the second annual conference known as “Circling the Wagons”. The event is held to give a voice to gay Mormons who feel they have nowhere to turn.
It’s estimated there are more than 180,000 openly gay Mormons in the U.S. Jay Jacobsen, who attended the event, is one of them. “It was a tough journey,” he said. He no longer associates with the LDS church.
At the conference people who call themselves “straight allies” shared their vision for the future. “Straight allies” are members of the LDS church who believe gay members should have the same rights they do. “Our voices as allies and members of the church need to be louder and stronger in number,” aid Hollie Hancock, a straight ally.
Jacobsen said like Salt Lake City events such as Pride Parade give him hope for the future. 300 supportive Mormons marched together with their gay counterparts in the parade last year in support of gay rights.
